Saturday, January 25, 2014

TIMES OF INDIA: Members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) obstructed works and staged a rally on Thursday protesting against the pace of metro rail works near Sangeet junction despite their objections. Nearly 100 Iskcon members, chanting slogans against the project, threw the dug-up mud and barricades into the pits dug for erecting pillars near the junction.It may be recalled that the property of the Iskcon temple is being acquired for the metro rail project by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metro Rail. Nearly 900 square yards of its land would be affected due to road expansion. The Iskcon management has been demanding that the metro rail authorities take an alternative route to avoid this land acquisition. Iskcon temple protection committee president, Dr Sahadeva Dasa, said they had given an alternative plan to the HMR on October 25, 2013, but there was no response from the officials."On Wednesday, we met the general manager (works) of HMR and asked them to stop work on the stretch immediately. However, they increased the pace of works and in the wee hours of Thursday, dumped material for erecting pillars near Sangeet junction. This is totally unjust, unfair and inequitable treatment towards the temple," he said."We are not against the metro rail project, but it should not be at the cost of complete destruction," he said, adding the temple committee was ready for talks to ensure a win-win situation for both parties.